The Random Spiel: July 22nd 2008

-Artist James Jean has created a Vargas-esque portrait of the character of Sally Jupiter (Carla Gugino) which is being used in “Watchmen” and can be spotted in the trailer.

-Ryuhei Kitamura, the director of the 2000 Japanese zombie action epic “Versus”, has just announced that he’s working on an American version. He has just finished a draft of the script and will do one more polish before handing it in.

-Nineteen photos from the set of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s “Crank: High Voltage” have gone online at The Los Angeles Times.

-Sony Pictures Classics is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut “Synecdoche, New York” for a late 2008 release.

-Fox Searchlight will distribute Nia Vardalos-led rom-com “My Life in Ruins” in the US and Australia with a 2009 release planned.

-Selma Blair has confirmed that she’s up for a third “Hellboy” movie if it is to be made.

-HBO has released a rather impressive one-sheet for their upcoming new Alan Ball-produced vampire series “True Blood”.

-“Speed Racer” will hit in both full screen and widescreen DVD versions and Blu-ray editions on September 16th.

-“Iron Man” will be officially released in single disc DVD, two-disc DVD and Blu-ray editions on September 30th.

-While Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz want to do a “Millenium” movie, it sounds like the studios aren’t interested.

-Not yet confirmed but “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” should arrive on DVD on October 14th.